Almost half of UK motorists are seriously distracted by in-car technology while driving, according to RAC’s latest Report on Motoring.
The report reveals staggering findings. Almost 46% of the drivers polled find gadgets severely divert their attention while on the road, with the figure rising to 55% among 17-24 year olds.
Although mobile phones and satellite navigation systems are often touted as the top distractions, the Report found the main culprit is more familiar technology:
* 54% admit they have been seriously distracted by their radio, CD or DVD player, with the 17-24 year old age group again proving the most affected (63%)
* 35% are distracted by their heating/air conditioning controls
* 34% are distracted by their SatNav (this rises to 40% among young drivers and to 49% among high mileage drivers).
* 32% say their mobile phone has seriously distracted them, rising to 41% among 17-24-year-olds.
RAC’s Report on Motoring is celebrating its 20th year as the voice of the motorist. This technology report looks back over two decades of technological advances as well as looking at what drivers believe will happen over the next 20 years.
David Bizley, RAC’s technical director, said: “In-car technology has come a long way since the late ‘80s. The advances have fallen into two camps - active and passive. Active technologies such as in-car entertainment are not always positive as they can cause driver distraction, while passive technologies, such as anti-locking brake systems (ABS), are undervalued as they are not fully understood or deemed less important as they come on automatically.”
The report also reveals that UK drivers are motoring with a serious lack of knowledge. ABS and immobilisers are fitted as standard on new cars by law, but only 70% of motorists knew that they had ABS, while only 68% knew that they had immobilisers – a worrying statistic.
And as cars get more technologically complex, drivers are faced with more and more warning signals on their dashboard. These are meant alert drivers to potential problems, but it seems they are also leading to confusion over what all these signals mean, for example only half of drivers recognise the symbol for an airbag.
The RAC Report claims that it’s not surprising then that 85% of motorists believe the complexity of cars today means people need to be taught how to use in-car technology properly.
Bizley added: “Technology has always been a key feature of the car, but there have been some real leaps when it comes to the computers and electronics involved. While these technologies have improved car safety in many respects, and improved the in-car experience of the driver, they do have their drawbacks - namely distracting the motorist while driving and confusing them when it comes to the number of warning signals which can be found on dashboards. It is the use of the in-car technologies we take for granted such as the CD player and air conditioning that cause as much of a distraction as mobile phones and SatNav. These technologies aren’t dangerous in themselves but they must be used responsibly. Before you embark on any trip you should always make sure you and your car are fully prepared for the journey, even down to choosing your favourite CD or radio station and getting the temperature controls right. If you really do need to change any thing while driving, do it safely - preferably by pulling over at a suitable location.”
In its Report on Motoring, RAC is also calling for:
* A Europe-wide code of practice to standardise the dashboard display symbols and lights. It should be made easier for motorists to understand the meaning of warning lights as well as the level of risk they face.
* Wider use of LCD screens in new cars to provide drivers with plain English explanations of warnings and what can be done to remedy the problems
* Car manuals to be developed and written in a more consumer friendly with downloadable quick user guides for the second hand market. Manufacturers should also ensure their warning symbols and explanations are readily accessible online, so that customers can identify problems quickly.
Simon McBride
